Respiratory Care

Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care (BS)

93%
The average pass rate for UToledo students taking the national respiratory care credentialing exams. That’s 30 percent above the national pass rate, and proof-positive that our award-winning respiratory care program is one of the best in the area.

93%
The average pass rate for UToledo students taking the national respiratory care credentialing exams. That’s 30 percent above the national pass rate, and proof-positive that our award-winning respiratory care program is one of the best in the area.

Respiratory Care Bachelor's Degree Overview

The University of Toledo’s accredited respiratory care program has received the Ohio Board of Regent’s prestigious Program Excellence Award. In 2017, it received the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award from the national Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Respiratory care is an allied health specialty. Respiratory therapists assist physicians in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with lung and heart conditions.

If you like options, this is a great career.

Respiratory therapists see a diverse group of patients, from newborns to the elderly.

They work in diverse settings — hospitals, skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, home care and physicians' offices.

They have diverse career opportunities, from therapy and management to sales and education.

UToledo respiratory care students take two years of general courses and health science pre-requisites. They then apply to the professional portion of the program, which includes almost 1,000 hours of clinical experience.

Our focus is on competency-based learning, as well as outcomes-based training and education. Our students attend several simulations each year in our cutting-edge simulation center to test their critical-thinking and judgment skills.

Registered respiratory therapists with associate’s degrees can complete their bachelor’s in two years.

Respiratory Care Bachelor's Degree Highlights

Top accredited bachelor’s degree program.

UT received the prestigious Program Excellence Award from the Ohio Board of Regents. Just 14% of the country’s 360 respiratory care programs grant bachelor’s degrees.

The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care has awarded the program the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award for exceeding thresholds for credentialing examination success, attrition and positive job placement.

Almost 1,000 hours of clinical experience. Respiratory care students work under the guidance of clinical instructors at The University of Toledo Medical Center and clinics on our Health Science Campus. Students also rotate to regional health-care systems and community hospitals. They care for all kinds of patients, from the critically ill to premature infants.

An above-average pass rate on national exam. 93% of UToledo respiratory care students pass the national credentialing exam each year. That’s 30% higher than the national average. Graduates must pass this exam to become licensed and practice respiratory therapy in Ohio and all other states except Alaska.

Degree completion track. Are you already a registered respiratory therapist with an associate’s degree? Earn your bachelor’s in two years. Our professional support courses cover many health-care issues relevant to the practicing professional. Choose a specialization to enhance your career.

State-of-the-art simulation center. UToledo respiratory care undergrads polish their skills in some of the nation’s most comprehensive lab facilities.

UT’s cutting-edge Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center on the Health Science Campus houses a virtual hospital with an ICU, trauma suite, obstetrics and delivery suite, and operating room equipped with human, patient simulators and clinical equipment. There’s no better way to prepare to treat real-world patients than to work with simulation manikins that respond to treatment in real time.

Expert faculty. All faculty members are nationally registered respiratory therapists with advanced degrees and extensive clinical experience. Program director Jerome Sullivan, PhD, RRT, is a Fellow of the American Association for Respiratory Care and president of the International Council for Respiratory Care.

Career Opportunities

The job market continues to be strong for respiratory therapists. UT has a 100% job placement rate for recent graduates.

Our graduates work almost exclusively in hospitals. They have been hired by all area hospitals and every children’s hospital in Ohio and at the University of Michigan.

An increasing number of respiratory therapists are now working in:

Skilled nursing facilities

Physicians' offices

Home-health agencies

Specialized care hospitals

Medical-equipment supply companies

UToledo graduates also have become educators and program directors at institutions throughout the country.

The exams to become certified or registered respiratory therapists are optional. But most states require at least the certification exam. Many employers also insist on at least one of these credentials.

Our Alumni

"The respiratory care program at The University of Toledo gave me the deeper knowledge and credentials I needed to advance in my career. The program has very strong areas, including patient education and clinical experience. I had the opportunity to be involved in many specialty areas in the hospital, such as newborn labor and delivery, neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, pulmonary function and sleep study laboratories, and adult intensive-care units."Zakaria AlyousifBS ’10, RRT, MS